Johari says sorry to Guan Eng

GEORGE TOWN: Former PKR Seberang Prai municipal (MPSP) councillor Johari Kassim has publicly apologised to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for his outbursts and over his role in boycotting the swearing-in ceremony of the new council president.

At a press conference called by Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman here, Johari said he decided to apologise after taking into consi­deration the people’s and Pakatan Rakyat’s interest.

“After the meeting between the DAP and PKR on Tuesday, I expect to see better understanding between our parties,” he said.

“If there had been better communication in the first place, all these would not have happened.

“Now I just want to put everything behind me and help the Pakatan move forward.”

Johari urged all Pakatan members to discuss problems through the proper channels. “Don’t do it through the media,” he said.

Mansor told reporters the party would write a letter of appeal to Lim and the state executive council calling for Johari’s reinstatement.

“Let’s be clear – Johari was punished not for his stand but because of the manner in which he expressed it,” he said.

Last Monday, the state executive council sacked Johari, the PKR’s council whip, for leading eight councillors in boycotting the June 4 swearing-in ceremony of former North Seberang Prai district officer Mokhtar Mohd Jait.

Johari claimed the position had been reserved for a PKR member.

Meanwhile, state Local Govern­ment and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said Johari took a long time to make the public apology.

“A lot of damage has been done. The image of the state government and local council has been affected,” he said.

He declined to comment on whether Johari would be reinstated.

State Gerakan secretary Ong Thean Lye chided Lim for “bowing to pressure from Pakatan Rakyat and its leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim” in considering the reinstatement of Johari.

“Initially, Lim tried to portray himself as one having absolute power, where he can do what he likes, even to the extent of refusing to meet Johari despite a request by the PKR to reconcile,” he said in a statement. “But now Lim has made an about-turn.”